Lovely Socialite, Left Field Quartet, And Illusions

This show celebrates new releases from two outfits that certainly have a foundational relationship with jazz, but build on them in ways that aren't bound by tradition. The six-piece Lovely Socialite, formed in Madison in 2009, uses instruments including vibraphone, cello, trombone, and pipa (a Chinese stringed instrument) to create pieces that range from dense and moody to playful and giddy. Their new EP DoubleSharkfocuses mostly on lean, rock-informed compositions, making for some of the most driving and concise work the band has put out so far, but not sacrificing its colorful eccentricity. Madison-based outfit Left Field Quartet's new album, Please Take Us Seriously, uses more conventional instrumentation—drums, bass, keys, tenor sax—but is equally eager to prod at jazz conventions. "Straight Ahead F Blues" seems to revel in those conventions, as the title implies, but Josh Agterberg's piano and Cooper Schlegel's bass gently steer it in more abstract and dissonant directions here and there. "Hedonism" finds the group aggressively chopping up their rhythms, "Flowers Everywhere" dabbles in lush synth leads, and "Fun!" unleashes multi-reedist Alex Charland to improvised abrasively over drummer Jacob Bicknase's funky, swinging beat. Ahead of the album's release, you can listen to "Straight Ahead F Blues" right here. —Scott Gordon